Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 14

M-Mattooo (D.) Journal Ce 7. W77 ra I I IWJII II still Germans, but they have now been outnumbered by Yugoslavs. Officers are exclusively French and can take their wives to duty posts such as Djibouti but as one growled, "we regard the enlisted men as permanent bachelors." toughest and most disciplined units in the world. Though the pay is low (less than $200 a month in France, but double that here) officers jay the Legion has more volunteers than It needs. A large number of volunteers, who must be from 18 to 40, are harder." But the Legion has become a fighting unit with no war to fight, and there seems to be a restlessness In the ranks with Us diminishing world role.

A French legionnaire, over a beer, said he was returning shortly to France and would quit after serving for five years because he was bored. "I have been here for two years and the only excitement was last year when we were called In to rescue 30 French school children kidnaped by terrorists," be said. The legionnaires became so enthusiastic during this rare flrefight they went on to storm a nearby Somali borderpost, drawing outraged protests from the government in Mogadishu. The legionnaires are under strict orders not to discuss their role with strangers, but in bars on such streets as Rue Verdun and Rue Marseille thay are only too happy to pour put their grievances to girlfriends and (Visitors. "We're doing a hell of a lot more roadbuilding than fighting bere," grumbled another legionnaire, reflecting the unit's main Job here now to build- roads and military Installations.

But whatever the grumbling, the Legion is still one of the This Valentine's Day, put a sparkle in her eye. V'- DJIBOUTI, French Territor) of Afars Issas (UPI) A last hurrah it sounding (or the French Foreign Legion in this desolate colonial outpost on the Horn of Africa. The Legion is probably the most talked about, written about, filmed and romanticized military unit in history. But France is scheduled to withdraw from its last African colony by midyear, further reducing the Legion's traditional role as the elite par excellence shock troops of the French empire. Currently, though, the sun-bronzed legionnaires of the 13th demi-brlgade stationed here are the same, tough, tight-lipped soldiers of fortune Immortalized in a score of "Beau Geste" movies.

There are Yugoslavs, West Germans, Spaniards, Belgians, Italians and a sprinkling of Americans and Canadians among the 1,500 legionnaires who help keep the peace in the wasteland of Djibouti. They work bard and play hard. In desert camouflage and American-made Jeeps they patrol the 250-mlle-long colonial border In what Is officially the world's hottest region, skirmishing occasionally with nomad raiders from Somalia. At night, superbly turned out In immaculately starched khaki and distinctive white kepis the legionnaires invade the restaurants of downtown Djibouti, reveling In their reputations. Other troops move respectfully aside when the legion-, naires enter the town's most popular bar, La Flecbe Rouge.

The thousands of girls who throng the city's nightclubs reputedly charge more for their favors to the legionnaires "because we have to work MhIEIKIESS That's what Valentine's Day is all about. we suggest that you spend 5 I 1 In'v hat spec i each other and top it off with a quiet dinner for two; Take advantage of our VALENTINE SPECIAL-. Midqe Costanza sits at White House desk Carter aide had never been in White House Give her an ArtCarved Diamond. Styled for your way of life. Exciting.

Fashionable. The perfect way to express your love. Your dreams. Visit your ArtCarved Diamond Center soon. Where you'll find the widest selection of ArtCarved- diamond rings to be found anywhere.

And diamond experts to help you make (Red, White or Rose') With each couple's meal on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 Don't Wait. Call Now For Your Reservations this very important purchase 23S ibheraton CHjteM5Sohondl-57 Don't miss nightly in our lounge "SOMklS FSBiUlf CCmlNG FEB. 14 TO OUR a I ay wi 0161 Inn Mattooi If I felt awe and anguish at the same moment." Midge cringed when Marsh told her that Charles Colson had previously occupied the office a sun filled blue-and-white room with an early American decor and a- proximity to the, Oval Office thai suggests" power. When Colson worked for Richard Nixon, he was known as a tough operator.

He once said he would walk over his grandmother to re-elect Nixon. In its way, her loyalty to her President is as fierce as Volsori'stohis. She still gushes with praise of Carter. Her eyes sparkle when she talks about him, "He hasn't changed at all" she says. "1 feel moved to call him 'Mr.

He kind of smiles when I forget and call him Her job is to woo grandmothers, not walk over them. She is Carter's emissary to organized groups senior citizens, women, consumers, blacks, Hispanic-Americans, the young, the handicapped. She is to represent him to these groups and to see that their views are made known to him. Officials of organizations, eager to establish contact, have been telephoning her at the rate of 350 calls a day. In the first 10 days on the job, she received 3,000 letters.

Midge has learned that work in the White House can mean a seven-day-a-week commitment. But she says she is used to tong hours, Occasionally In "Rochester, she" says, she would work around the clock, foregoing sleep entirely, going home only for a shower, then returning to work. "All I want when I leave here," she says, "Is to know I helped the American people feel that they were part of the government. I want to help Jimmy Carter keep his commitment." Midge, 44, is one. of four children of a retired manufacturer of Italian sausages who came to the United States from Sicily.

Her rise to a White House post reflects Carter's belief in her and hers in him. For 24 years she had been an aide to a real estate developer and a Democratic party workhorse in Rochester. In 1973, she ran for office a seat on city council. She Won with 8,500 votes more than any other candidate. By tradition in Rochester, the city council names the top vote-getter as mayor.

JOCKEY RED DEVIL GIFT ITEMS But Midge, the first woman ever elected to the council, was denied that honor. She was named vice mayor instead. She considers herself a victim of sexism. In 1974, she ran for Congress, unsuccessfully, igalnst Rep. Barber Conable, Carter, still governor of Georgia and the Democrats' 1974 campaign chairman, offered to speak for her.

"I checked him out," she says. "Listen, I wasn't going to let anyone campaign for me if I couldn't believe in him." The night Carter appeared on her behalf at a reception, she was tied up In a council session. By time she arrived, she says, Carter had Introduced himself to each of the 200 guests, saying, "My name is Jimmy Carter and I'm waiting for Midge." That was the first of five trips Carter made to Rochester. Last spring, it was her turn to help him. Midge was Carter's upstate chairman in the New York primary.

In July she spoke for him at the Democratic con-, vention. 1 "He said he asked me to second his nomination because my natural love of life would come through," she said. "It was probably the highest compliment of my life." FTD WASHINGTON (UPU -Midge Costanza laughs when she remembers her first day at her new job. "1 was sitting at my desk when my secretary came in all excited and said, 'Midge, the the the President Is here! "You forget where" you are. I was about to ask her, "The president of when, he walked in.

"1 shouted, 'Jimmy! 'I mean Mr. "And he said, Miss Costanza Margaret formally, "Midge" to everyone who knows her is the first woman to serve in the White House as assistant to the President. And you can bet she's excited about it. Before January, she had never set foot In the White House. Jimmy Carter telephoned her Christmas Day to offer her the job.

A while later. Midge wau visiting Washington. Her flight home to Rochester, N.Y. was delayed. So she gave in to temptation and telephoned John Marsh, an aide to former President Gerald Ford, to ask to see his office the White House of (ice she would occupy.

"I'm walking up the driveway to the front door of the White House," she says, "and I had this feeling of awe and respect. Suddenly I realized what I was wearing: blqe jeans! Somehow, Radio Shack's sales are up FORT WORTH, TX. -Roadio Shack's sales tor the six months ended Dec. 31, 1976 claimbed 34 per cent above sales for the same period last year, and per share amounts o( Income from continuing operations Increased 42 per cent tor this first half of the company's fiscal year. Tandy parent company of the Radio Shack store chain, reported sales of $500,373,000 for the six-month period.

For the six months ended Dec. 31. 1975 net sales were $373,590,000. Income from continuing operations were $2.45 for the first half of fiscal 1977, compared to $1.91 a year ago. Average shares outstanding for the six months ended Dec.

31. 1976 were 17.699,213. compared to 18.069,708 the previous year. Earth Heat Geo thermal energy literally means "earth-heat" energy, and geothermal areas are those areas where the heat Is great enough and close enough to the surface to provide a heat source. In addition, the heat source must be in or near an area of permeable rocks which contain enough water to transfer the beat to the surface either along fractures or through drill holes.

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